A man with his Daughter

Today is Easter. It is great festive season over here in Italy. People go to churches and then celebrate the rebirth of Christ in various ways. The day is unusually beautiful. The spring in its full bloom, blossoming the atmosphere with the charm of greenery. I woke up although a bit tensed due to the some pangs, but the atmosphere with its blue sky and green trees soon overcome the state of mind with it great lush of spring. I was not sure whether to go for work to office (as I had decided sometime back to finish some stuff this week), or to go out for a trip to mountains. The previous day was a bit tiring as I went for shopping, and had to do other household stuff, which broke me so much that I preferred to lie on bed. I also bought new trousers the previous day, and wanted to try them. Thus I decided to go out to office, work a bit and later in evening would see what can be done, to enjoy the festive.

I went out take the bus at 12:00, the weather was damn beautiful. Had I been not standing on the roadside, I sure would have removed my clothes and jumped in the sea. I strolled a bit as I waited for the bus. Apart from me, there was only one student who was going to ICTP for work (yes he was also Indian but form Nepal ). The bus came, a little late than the scheduled time, as if she also wanted to enjoy and didn’t want to work.

When I entered the bus, I stood right at the entrance, as there were not enough space inside that I could go in. Near me were standing a man with his daughter. They have sprinkled some water on the floor, and the little girl (3 or 4 years I guess) was talking something to his dad, as how to clean it up. They were talking Italian so I could not understand exactly, but gestures conveyed most of the meaning. After a while they started spreading the sprinkled water, so that it dries soon. The daughter was notorious and sweet. So was also the dad. The two look very sweet to me. The dad was now and then looking at me , to get assured that I am not unhappy with the mischievous acts of his daughter. Well I was not, I just loved them, both of them looked sweet and cute. The dad was also playing with daughter, and was trying to show that he is very happy today. I was thinking that the wife must be standing a little distance away in the bus, but I was wrong. When the bus stopped at the church, the two get down, but now woman accompanied them. I felt deep pity for them. I do not know why there was not any woman with them. I thought that may be they have divorced, but then in that case the daughter stays with the mother. Still it could be that the dad is allowed to meet the daughter only on some occasion, and today was one, when the two went out away form the wife (mother) to enjoy the company of each other.

It could also be that the wife has died leaving the daughter, under the care of husband. This could explain also the unusual childish behavior of the father. May be he was trying to hide the sorrow that he misses his wife very much and wants to absorb himself in the present, which is his daughter.

It could also be that the man is not married and has adopted the child from an orphanage, but this is bit unusual I guess. There could be many other reasons, why the two were without a woman.

The dad’s love and his activities were such that they did not make the daughter realize the necessity of a mother. May be she does need her, or may she doesn’t as the dad was extremely good and caring.

Whatever the reasons were for them to be without a woman, I felt sad for them.

Parcel from my Sister on Rakhi

Few days back my sister send me a parcel. Her busy schedule did not give any chance to her of informing me from before. It was while I was talking to my mom that she informed be about it that I will soon receive a parcel on Rakhi by my sister. I was excited about it.

For the past few days I didn’t check my mail box. My office is located in a different building, while the mail boxes are put in the main building. Unless some official work brings me to main building, I never go to see the mail box. After I heard from my mom about the parcel. I went the same day to see if I have received any thing. On entering the room where mail boxes are kept, I found a yellow packet lying in my mail box. I quickly collected it and went to my office to have a look. On my way I thought that it must have arrived earlier, only I checked it now. On reaching my office, I was very eager to open it soon and see what I have recived. At first instance I thought of opening it only after I have reached home, but I couldn’t resist the temptation. I quickly opened it, and what a surpise ? I received Parle-G biscuits and Nan-khatai with rakhi and a soveinor fron New York and a small card with best wishes… Vow that was so lovely and touching. After gazing it for sometime, I closed it. Soon I left for home.

On reaching home, and after finishing the dinner, I was again excited to have a glimpse of the parcel. I closed the door of my room, jumped on my cushy bed and reopened the parcel, this time I was more happy, as if a kid has just got a gift of which he was desperately longinh for. My behavior was like that partially, because I was in comfortable position, lying on bed, covering myself with soft blanket. All this made me feel very homely, like as though I was in my house at my hometown.

The Parle-G biscuits reminded me of my childhood days, when I used to eat the whole packet of Parle-G by soaking one after another in tea. Holding the Parle-G in my hand, I recalled the same taste that I used to get in my childhood. This softness brought with itself lot of events from those days to life. I remembered how much I used to love eating biscuits by soaking them in tea. they used to become soft, and sometimes they used to even fall in tea, which ultimately I used to take them out by spoon. There are lot of childhood memories associated with Parle-G. Everytime whenever we (me, my sister and my Mom) used to go to market, my Mom used to purchase two packets of biscuits, one for me and one for my sister. Both of us used to eat them by soaking them in tea, a great taste thus. I used to finish my packet very early before my sister could finish hers, why ?? so that she donot take mine . But after mine were finished I used to take biscuits fo my sister . Now I feel how mean I was, but when you are kids these things do not come to once mind. My sister was great, that she never used to say anything much to me, she only used to ask why did i took hers and then smile . Funny are childhood memories. So receiving Parle-G in parcel made me to think about my childhood, and I again wanted to become a kid .

After examinig Parle-G and keeping it back in packet, I took out the sovenior from New York. It size was that of small pocket diary, and had a magnet at its back. The picture showed a building and other things like cranes etc. On it was written, “Old New York, Flat Iron Building”. It was slightly orangish in color, to give it a rusty look. May be they made it in that way in order to make the person looking at it feel retrospective. I also felt the same.

And in end I took out Rakhi, with a small card. The card contained wishes from my sister on rakhi. Rakhi was of silver. It looked very beautiful and was glittering in the light of bulb. Seeing all that I once again recalled my childhood days, when my sister used to tie rakhi on my hand and then used to give sweets to me. Oh … How sweet were those moments.

Blind Lady

2 Days ago I was coming to my office. When I came out form the house, I realized that the day was exceptionally beautiful. the sky was damn clear and blue, the Sun with its glossy light was enhancing the greenery everywhere. While walking towards the bus station, I realized that I missed the last bus and thus preferred to sit on th seat put near by.

I just sat down and gazed the vastness and blueness of sky with smile, occasionally looking here and there. After few minutes the bus 36 came, and everyone entered through the first gate. Given the beauty of the day, the bus was very crowded. Everyone longed to go to the sea shore and stretch themselves under the sky taking sun bath.

I was standing just near the front door. there wasn’t enough space to move or to go towards back. Standing right at the front part of bus near the driver, one can see everything on both sides of road. The was lot of people everywhere, as though they were visiting a public fair. When the bus was about the reach the stop located near the Church, I noticed a middle aged lady, dressed nicely and wearing dark sun glasses. When The bus approached she did not make any gesture or signal to stop the bus. However the bus still did stop because someone wanted to get down.

When she heard the sound of bus approaching, she started moving towards the first door. She used her hand in order to feel and sense where she is heading. On seeing her the driver opened the door, but since I was standing at the door (due to crowd ), the door couldn’t open nicely and was half opened. By then she has already come to the door. She put her right hand on the side of left door and the left hand in between the two doors. She asked what is the number of the Bus. While she was asking this, the driver closed the door in order to reopen in nicely. Since her hands were kept in wrong position thus they were a little hurt when the door closed. After teh door opened again she just said thanks in Italian with a beautiful simle.

After she left and the bus proceeded, I wondered even though she is unable to see the beauty of the day, still she is happy and have a smile on her face. While other people who are completely perfect are always complaining of something or other, or fighting with someone. What an irony ???

Saturday with swimming in Sea

With the weather getting more and more hot one is tempted to take a dive in sea. This temptation becomes more stronger when the evening bus taking you home moves along the sea coast, where you see many others like you enjoying and basking in the sun.

With this temptation difficult to overcome I soon purchased swimming costume for myself. While purchasing I wondered that the costume being a small piece of cloth covering only the required part of body why costs so much. Anyway I still bought it.

I decided to go for swimming on Saturday, as thats the only day when I don’t do any professional work, apart from the house cleaning.

While swimming if you have company of friends then that is very joyfull. Previous Saturday while going for swimming I was looking for a friendly company. Late in evening around 6:00 pm I went to the other building of my institute which is located close by my office, in search for some company. Unfortunately I did not find any. I felt a bit strange in going for swimming alone. But still I decided to go the sea, hoping that may be on the way I would find some friends.

I reached the bus stop located near the sea. There I noticed two familiar person. They were a something like 20 meters away from me. They were standing near the bus. I thought they would take the bus, but when I went near the bus I did not find them there. I just looked here and there, when my eye caught their sight. They were moving towards the area for swimming. I was excited a bit that may be they could join me in swimming. So I followed them. After walking some 50 meters they stopped at a place to change clothes. From back I came to join them. They also felt happy to see me, may be because they thought that a bigger group means bigger fun.

Finally we went to sea. The water was not very deep. It went till my shoulders and when I moved farther away I realized that the slope is not much. Moving some 10meters, it reached till my chin. The sea bed was sandy, which was quite good. Because if it is stony then it becomes slippery due to algae and the presence of sea shells makes them more sharp. A sandy sea bed was like cushion touching your feet. I tried to catch hold of the sand by my feet but it was very loose.

Soon we were joined by another boy who came with a ball (actually a football ).We then stared playing with the ball. This was really funny. Many times sea water went in my mouth. The tongue lost its taste buds.

Obesity Obsession

Yesterday I was reading BBC and I came across a interesting article. The article was about “Fat friends can boost your size”. It sounds funny on reading but after sometime realized that it is very true.

The article can be looked at the following link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7524944.stm

In evening when I was traveling in bus, I was observing and looking fro examples verifying the statements made by BBC. Researchers say that People are subconsciously influenced by the weight of those around them. This is certainly true to some extent. If a thin looking person is in a company where most of members are fat, then after spending days with them he/she would like to be one with them, because the human mind is such that it cannot bear the oddness for long.

Unless the person mind is strong enough to overcome the unspoken criticism, he/she would very likely become victim of bad things.

Thus if you are in a community where most of people are fat then it is very likely that you would also become the same.

Social criticism of being a vegetarian

Mostly in India people are vegetarian. Actually the form of vegetarianism practiced by most of them is partial. Only a small percentage follow true vegetarianism.

The word vegetarianism is defined by Wikipedia in the following manner : it is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products.

Mostly the Indians follow lacto vegetarian: where along with vegetable one can also take milk, honey and other dairy products. This is because Cow is considered scared in Hindu religion, thus the milk is consumed assuming cow to be sacred mother.

Beside this many Indians also prefer to take flesh occasionally. This type of vegetarianism is actually semi-vegetarian. There are many other varieties of semi-vegetarianism.

However certain class of Hindu follow Su vegetarianism : in this apart from being Lacto veg one does not eat onions, garlic, scallions, leeks and shallots. Mostly the people who follow Yoga philosophy, they follow this. Why ?? Because the aim of Yoga is to attain a stable, desire-less and focused mind, and ultimately join the soul with God. Eating these things make the focusing of mind difficult and also makes the controlling of desires difficult. Thus this is practiced by them.

There is another related term Fruitarianism : It is a diet of only fruit, nuts, seeds, and other plant matter that can be gathered without harming the plant. This is mostly practiced by people following Jainism. Some times Hindus also follow this occasionally. They follow it during the times of fast.

Whatever the kind of vegetarianism one follows, the reason for following them can be related to morality, religion, culture, ethics, aesthetics, environment, society, economy, politics, taste, or health.

Now you must wondering why I’m talking about all this ? The reason is that I’m a Hindu and practice Yoga philosophy. Thus I’m a Su Veg but sometimes on days of fast I also follow Fruitarianism. Presently I’m living in Italy. Practicing these are really difficult in places where majority of people are non-veg. Its difficult not because I don’t find lot of vegetables in supermarkets, but because the way I’m being treated by society.

Common remarks and words that I hear from public are : ” are you joking that you are veg ” , ” really ” , ” I will not be happy if I practice that ” etc. and the most extreme one : ” are you crazy ” .

Sometimes the criticism comes in an indirect way. Like many times it happen that I’m called for party by my friends, almost all the people going for party are non-veg with me the only exception who neither drinks alcohol nor eats meat. Thus it becomes quite difficult. Either I have to ask them to arrange for something veg for me which appears like asking for favor or I just make any reason that I would not be able to come but then this gives an impression that I’m not a very social person. This type of unspoken criticism hurts more.

Even when people do make something veg for me, they forget to exclude onions, garlic etc. Once I was called for small dinner party, where they made some veg stuff. The host were happy that I would be also coming for party while mostly I say no. I was also happy that I’m going to meet friends. However only when I reached there that I realized that the food contain onions and garlic, while the sweet dish contains eggs. I didn’t want to trouble them nor I wanted to make a joke of myself. Thus I decided to eat the food leaving the sweet dish. I felt bad that I had to violate the rules. But then I also felt happy that I made them feel good by joining them for dinner.

Recently I had to go for a conference related to my research work. There they asked me while registering me for the conference, whether I’m vegetarian or vegan or follow some other. It was quite difficult to explain them the kind of diet I practice. And unfortunately at that time I didn’t have the knowledge of the different terms assigned to various categories of vegetarianism. Somehow I managed to explain them the restricted diet I follow. But after the conversation was finished I realized that almost everyone in the room was staring at me with wide open eyes.

There are many encounters like this through which I have to go. Just because that I’m veg and follow a restricted diet that I have to undergo an unspoken criticism. Practicing vegetarianism in a region where majority is non-veg, is considered abnormal.

Qualifying exam

Yesterday was my qualifying exam. Its an exam that every PhD student over here in SISSA have to give when they are in 2nd year. We are asked to give a presentation (could be slide or blackboard lecture). Its a kind of demonstration of the research work and learning that the individual has done till then. The examiners are professors who work in various research areas but broadly belong to one field. Based on the performance the students are judged if they are suitable to carry on further or not.

I have been preparing for this exam for the past 1 month. I had to read a lot papers in order to grab as much knowledge as possible, so that I could answer the questions raised while the seminar is going on. I decided to give a Blackboard lecture. I prepared the lecture and then I rehearsed in front of my supervisor. There were lot of changes, I was asked to edit it and give one more rehearsal. Finally the 2nd time, it was quite good and my prof was happy.

Even though I practiced in front of my professor, still I was feeling nervous for the exam. The night before the exam, there was a big thunderstorm. Since it was hot, so before sleeping I left the window of my room open. But in night due to the big thunderstorm there was lightening every now and then on my face, and also the noises by the clouds was also quite disturbing. In short I didn’t get a good a sleep. When I woke, my head was dizzy and heavy. This added to my nervousness.

As the time for the exam approaches, I was worried. I was standing outside the lecture room with my other friends, when I was told that now its my turn to give the presentation. In the lecture room there were two blackboards, placed perpendicular to each other, on the adjacent walls. I was thinking to give the lecture on the 2nd one as that was big and it is more easy to write big equations on a bigger board. So I started arranging the seats accordingly, however the seats were previously arranged to follow the lecture on the first board. The professors and audience had already seated themselves. I was expecting the audience to notice me arranging seats, so that they could also start turning their seats towards the 2nd board. But before this happened I was told to start the lecture on the first board.

Before starting I wanted to take a glass of water to ease the nervousness blogging my throat. I started with a heavy voice and felt a little uneasy in the beginning. However as time passed by I gained more confidence over the audience. People asked questions in middle. Before starting I had feeling that less questions would mean more comfort but I was wrong. I realized that questions helped me in gaining confidence and I felt more ease. The lecture was fine. However some questions I couldn’t answer, they were too difficult for me. As a result they are answered by my supervisor.  Finally I finished the lecture. After which I and other non-committee members (which included my friends) were asked to go out so that the committee members (mostly professors) could discus my performance and research work I have done in one year. We (me and my friends) went outside the room and started gossiping. Soon after a small meeting of the committee members, I was called back inside to hear the judgment. At that point my mind stopped thinking, stopped doing anything. I stood motionless with the lecture notes in my hand in front of all the professors to hear the judgment. Soon I was told by the main committee member, “YOU HAVE QUALIFIED”. On hearing this there was a broad smile on my face. I felt quite relaxed as if somebody has removed the invisible stone that was kept on my head.

A Dog’s Life, Chapter 3

Time passes by and I became more close to Koonchu. I still had love for Tomy, but I realized that whenever I came with good food to give them, Koonchu used to expect that I would give her a large portion since she is more dear to me. Ofcourse they were husband and wife. Koonchu was loyal to his husband Tomy, but I can’t say the same thing for Tomy. The reason why I’m saying this is that I never saw Koonchu with any other Dog, other than Tomy and she never used to go to other colonies to visit. Partially may be she felt that she doesn’t have enough strength to fight etc. But Tomy as I said earlier was a very masculine type dog, who feels proud in fighting and being rash and used to visit many nearby colonies to establish his rule in other areas.

Life of these street dogs is weird. They live in utter poverty, eating from rubbish and many times eating shit of other animals. On the other hand, some dogs are kept as pets in house. These pet dogs are brought up with very much love and affection. I feel a very strange contrast, when people come out to take a walk in park with their pets. The striking contrasts between street dogs and pet dogs: thin or healthy, shining or dull, clean or dirty etc. Well anyway, I will write about this later describing the social stigma faced among street dogs and the loneliness faced by pets.

Returning to the story …

Winter was approaching, it was if I remember right was middle of November. Both Tomy and Koonchu came to our house and we gave some bread to them for eating. To my surprise I noticed that both Tomy and Koonchu were injured. Koonchu was injured in leg, as if someone drove a vehicle on her leg or hit her with a stone. Tomy was hit on backof neck I don’t know by what, but it was bleeding and seems to be a deep wound. Generally these street dogs when they get injured, they lick the area of wound in order to heal it soon. Koonchu was able to lick her leg injurie while Tomy can’t. This was serious. I also didn’t know what to do. No one cares and so was I. I thought that it would go away in few days and then they would be healthy again. But I didn’t know that the injury on neck would become the cause of death for Tomy.

Days passed, Koonchu recovered herself from injury while Tomy can’t. With the passage of time, his wound was getting bad to worse, and the climate was also getting cooler day by day. Infact Tomy also came to know that his condition is getting serious. Now he hardly go anywhere in other colonies. Just eat food and stay close to our house. One morning we left the main gate of house open after we threw the waste, forgot to close it. After sometime when I went outside to do something else, I noticed that Tomy was sitting just at the door step of the house. His wound was smelling very bad and there were flies buzzing around him which he was trying to kill by his mouth. I tried to make him go out, but he was not going. I even brought some food from inside, so that his greed for food would bring him out of the house, but this also didn’t help. Ultimately my Dad has to force him out of house. He was looking very emotional. Already he was a street dog thus not liked by anyone except few, on top of that he got a foul smelling wound which make repel the people even more. This situation was really heart breaking.

After couple of days the wound was very serious. There was pus and mucus in the wound which was dropping every now and then from the wound. It was not only looking very ugly but also the smell was awful. Even we kept a bit distance from him and did not let him to come near the house, while at same time Koonchu was given preference. We hardly used to go close to him, used to give him food by trowing on floor. This was really touchy for him.

One night both Tomy and Koonchu came to our house. I brought food from inside. Tomy was standing a bit distance away. I gave the food to Koonchu by giving it in her mouth. On seeing this Tomy also came closer, but since I wanted to keep myself away from him thus I threw the bread on the ground, some distance away. To my surprise he felt really hurt at heart. He did not pick the bread and his eyes were glittering with tears. My sister was also standing close by to me. I then picked the bread and said “Tomy eat it dear”. He was not taking it. I felt that his heart felt bad on the treatment that he is getting on being wounded. We then closed the gate. He was standing close to gate but not taking the bread in his mouth which was kept on floor.

We felt pity that God has made him a Dog, that he cannot speak about his sorrows ans share feelings. He can atmost only stare and cry. His wife Koonchu was also sitting beside him to give him support. Ultimately we used more affectionate words and produced some kissing sounds for him, to this he felt better and took the bread. We also felt happy that at last he accepted the food. But we didn’t know that it was his last night. After giving him the food we went inside. That night was a bit misty and cold. Late at night we heard his cries and also the cries of Koonchu. It was too late for us to go out and check what is happening.

In morning we went and found Tomy lying on ground motionless, with his mouth half open and saliva falling from there. He was not breathing. He was lying in such a position so that his wound was towards the ground. We realized that since he wanted not to be troubled by flies sitting on his wound thus he slept with his wound facing the earth. But the ants and bugs from the wet ground started eating his wound, and thus he died after facing the unbearable pain. His wife Koonchu was sitting near to him, with his head lying on ground. She was looking very sad, and her eyes were speaking about what she lost.

To be Continued ….

Tamanna (1997)

Starring: Paresh Rawal as Tikku (eunuch), Manoj Bajpoi as saleem, Pooja Bhatt as Tamanna, Sharad Kapoor etc.

Directed: Mahesh Bhatt. Producer: Pooja Bhatt

Music Composer: Anu Malik Lyricists: Nida Fazil, Rahat Indori, Kaffi Azim, Indeewar.

Songs: 1. Ghar Se Masjid Hai – Lyrics: Nida Fazil, Singer: Sonu Nigam.

2. Shab Ke jage Haue – Lyrics: Nida Fazil, Singer: Alka Yagnik (female version), Kumar Sanu (Male version)

3. Uath Meri Jaan – Lyrics: Kaffi Azmi, Singer: Sony Nigam.

4. Ye Kya haua – Lyrics: Rahat Indori, SInger: Alka Yagnik and Kumar Sanu.

Review: The story picked by Mahesh Bhatt is a very strong one. It was based on true incident which happened in 1975 in India, this was specified before the start of movie. The story has been twisted to put drama and emotions in order to make it a complete commercial movie for the entertainment of the people. Acting done at several parts are very loose, the scene where the story demands good acting in order to rightly show the feeling and emotions has not been done very nicely as a result the role done by Pooja Bhatt doesn’t look very real. Paresh Rawal through out the whole movie keep crying. Instead of rightly expressing the feelings using body gestures which Eunuchs generally do, he starts crying. Although compared to other artist his performance was still better. Sharad kapoor has been to put in movie just to add some “masala and romance”, although I think that the movie can be made without him. His presence got importance only because of loneliness faced by Pooja Bhatt when she realizes that the man to whom she was calling “Abbu” (Dad) is actually an Eunuch. I think there is no need to show the drama and heroic activity of the boy. Had the movie been made without him, then the role of Paresha Rawal and Pooja Bhatt would have been more strong. Manoj Bajpoi role was good, the acting was done nicely. Emotions has been rightly conveyed by eyes and other body parts, words were spoken only at relevant scenes.

It would have been better if the movie was made with an aim to make it as an art movie not a commercial movie. Beside this the movie also shows groups of other Eunuchs, and they are shown in order to add humor to the movie. I ask when the director decided to make a movie on a serious topic then whats the point of showing such stupid humor. The villainous role played by the biological father of Pooja Bhatt, was not done very nicely.

In many parts of the movie the camera was shaking also very much. This is really ridiculous.

In end I would like to say, the movie would have been good if it was done as an art movie. The songs are great specially the lyrics of “Shab ke Jage haue” and “Ghar se Masjid hai”. Mahesh Bhatt has chosen a hot and bombastic topic in order to attract public and rosed great expectations in their mind, however failed to keep his promise. Roles of Paresh Rawal and Manoj Bajpoi were the only worthy ones, for rest the acting and roles were loose.

Worth watching once.

Food Crisis or Food Wastage

I have a been reading everywhere in news channels regarding global food crisis. Its really a serious issue. There are many countries where there is not even sufficient food and then this food crisis has started.

Type words like Famine, hunger etc in Google, and you get several images popping up in front of your eyes of dying people, children suffering form ill-nutrition etc.

I was wondering if food crisis can really be evaded. In my opinion yes.

Presently I’m staying in Italy, here i noticed that people waste a lot of food, which otherwise can be used for feeding the needy people. Not just this they do this everyday and feel proud of it. There are many stories which I can give as examples.

1. One of my friend was working in a bakery as part time job. He told me that these people are very cautious about their taste. The workers in bakery were ordered by manager to make some bread using certain ingredients in specified amount. They prepared first sample, in which on investigation they found had some problem (some ingredient was not up to the right amount), as a result they threw all the raw material which was prepared for making that bread. This they repeated for some four times unless they got the right one ready. Each time they used to throw the raw material and prepare the new one. This is really a food wastage. Instead of throwing, one could have used it for some good purpose.

Ofcourse taste is also an important issue, if the customers don’t get required taste then they would start complaining or would perhaps look for some other shop. But then there should also be mutual understanding. There should be a feeling of acceptance and compromise, and most important trust in everyone.

2. I share my apartment with some people. Here these guys used to buy lot of food stuff in excitement when ever they used to go to supermarket. But after few days they used to throw some of those things, complaining that after such a long time they must have been spoiled. This is really stupid. Why don’t they buy just what they need ? I would say that one should plan before buying. And the other funny thing they do, suppose the bought 1 kilograms of kiwi, they ate some of it and kept the rest. After one week passed, they would smell it ans would ask, do you think it is still ok to eat it? I reply, cut them and check, and in any case they don’t get spoiled so quickly if you are preserving them in fridge. To this they would keep it back in fridge and after 2 weeks they would throw, as now they are sure. It was simply laziness that they didn’t want to check. Its not only waste of food but also waste of money.

Not only in Italy, but even in India also people are very reluctant in saving food. I tell one incident

3. I was a small child, perhaps around 12 years. After the school timings I used to spend the rest of evening in my grand ma’s house, watching TV, playing games etc. One day I was standing at the at the doorway of the house in the afternoon, watching half empty street. Half emptiness in common in northern India during peak time of summer, as people prefer to stay in coolers or AC’s rather roaming on street. I was just gazing at the street, watching activities of people roaming there by and looking at goats and cows. All of sudden my aunt appeared from inside of house with a big bowl full of wheat flour. She came to threw it as it has been contaminated by insects and worms, since it has not been used for long time. The wheat flour was thrown near the drain, so that by morning it is washed away by water or will be cleaned by sweeper in morning (it was common at that time to throw waste stuff near drain, from where they are picked by sweeper in morning). The moment it was thrown, after some 5 minutes a very poor lady appeared. She was dressed very shabbily, clothes torn from various parts, walking bare foot on road, looking as if she has not taken bath from many days may be months. She was very very poor women. Her hairs were looking like a piece of bush. She sat down near the place where the wheat flour was thrown, and then using the dirty water flowing in the drain she started making chapatis out of it right on road (chapatis are traditional Indian bread, made from water and wheat flour after preparing the dough). I felt very pity at her. After she prepared the dough, she put that in her shabby bag and went. My eyes were wet after that, and even now whenever I recall that, I feel pain at my heart.

One should not do all this.

If one use food properly in an required amount, they I think the we would get some help in solving the problem of “Food Crisis”.